I don't know AnYONE, gay, straight, male, female

who watches that dumb, fako show.

that guy needs to get some more intelligent friends , i

When the hell are you going to stop misrepresenting what other journalists say? According to what you've quoted, that writer said NOTHING about women not liking football, etc. He said the reactions of women to "Runway" is basically the same as the reactions of MOST STRAIGHT MEN to football season. Where exactly is the assumption that women DON'T like football in that quote?

I'll tell you where: NOWHERE. Christ, you are FAR worse at jumping to conclusions than just about any other writer on Salon. You do it constantly, and it's really annoying. While the subject matter you report is often interesting, your sneering and false assumptions are getting really, really tiring.

Knock it off, willya?

In our household, it was my husband who discovered and faithfully Tivoed "Runway" every week. I was out of town yesterday and expected to be home about 10 pm. He said "Good, because you know what today is?" I said I didn't and he said happily "Project Runway starts again tonight".

Pete Bland, and you are right Rebecca that name is so appropos, should be held to task for such an idiotic article. He is an idiot and a sexist. I guess, according to Mr. Bland, I should get my pregnent self back to the kitchen with my barefeet. Why do papers allow such columns?

Thanks Rebecca for pointing out this assinine excuse for a writer.

Yep, that’s high brow analytical discourse and criticism for you. A round of applause for journalistic aggrandizement and a bigger round for cognomen ridicule!

C'mon. Are you kidding me? ENOUGH.

My fellow Salonists, when did we lose our sense of humor and resort to playground taunts? When did we begin to taffy-pull quotes out of context with a dollop of ego driven smear? When did we forget to laugh at ourselves? WHEN did we begin to clap with glee at character destruction with nary a thought? Ms.Traister’s often insightful articles have, of late, smacked of self-righteous self-serving journalism under the guise of feminism. And with pitchforks in hand, this forum has too often joined the merry-go-round of salacious spin.

When it comes to sexism, racism, homophobia, discrimination and bigotry of any sort, I bristle. My dander is danderized. I will march the march and fight the fight. If a women cannot obtain proper maternity leave. If gender based wage discrepancies occur. If harassment is commonplace. If birth control is denied. If true consistent misogynist boorish behavior occurs. Count on me, I’m there to support, petition, chortle, chuckle or chant.

But I am also going to stand-up when dangerous slander (yes, I mean slander) is lobed without warrant. The age of immediate lambasting and judgment has arrived, joy! After a mere five seconds in the cyberblogospheric time continuum, many cried J’accuse and branded Mr. Bland the village misogynist idiot.

So, dear friends, what exactly is the point? Malign a reporter’s character to prove our collective superiority and wit? Oh. Umm. Hurray???

In the era of multi-source media bombardment, it is ever more important to take pause and perform a little research triage. In a region notoriously oriented toward all things Pigskin ‘n’ Hoops, columnist Bland has a long history of publicizing, promoting and nurturing artists of all genders, supporting LGBT issues, gently chastising his own paper when cultural column space is lacking, etc. For a single wry satirical column which MOCKED gender stereotypes, he has been tossed on the Salon pyre of Sexism.

The consequences? In this case I believe you have merely ticked off one Columbia, MO expat, yours truly. But what happens when it’s your hometown? Your friend? You? What happens when jobs are lost? Reputations destroyed? Thankfully, this little tirade appears contained. Like the column or dislike the column – not the point. But remember, that dogma about sticks and stones is hogwash. Words are potent. Be careful. Too often on these boards I hear "where's that" "who cares" “it doesn’t matter”.

But it matters. It matters greatly.

When you labeled Pete Bland a “sexist” – you hurt a community I hold near and dear. When you called him an “idiot” – you hurt yourselves. Today, it’s Pete Bland on the pyre. Remember, tomorrow it may be you.

In the spirit of full disclosure:

I do, in fact, originally hail from Columbia, MO. I was front and center for the infamous “Fifth Down” game. I am still gobsmacked.

I do not know Mr. Bland. I do, however, read the Columbia Daily Tribune on a frequent basis.

To clarify, the Columbia School of Journalism resides at Columbia University and the Missouri School of Journalism at University of Missouri–Columbia,. The Columbia Daily Tribune is not owned/run by the Missouri School of Journalism. That would be the Columbia Missourian.

A.Marie,

Point well made. I originally bristled at the article and immediately called this guy out as a boor. Reread his column. Reread some of his other stuff. Good guy. If I hadn't taken a few minutes to do this, I'd be guilty of what I am always getting mad at others for doing, namely generalizing behavior and falling trap to stereotypes. I detest when the term bitch is used toward women opinion writers and I, we, did the same damn thing. Just food for thought. Thanks A. Marie for calling us out, sometimes we all need it.